Olympic-Style Medals Handed Out at the Only Gold Medal Rodeo in the World
By: Ann Bleiker
SALT LAKE CITY – While the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo are just getting underway, the Only Gold Medal Rodeo in the World came to a close on Pioneer Day in Utah at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo, presented by Zions Bank, in Salt Lake City. Making the evening more special was that July 24 was also the National Day of the Cowboy in 2021.
Breakaway roper Tacy Kay Webb turned in the fastest time stopping the clock in a quick 1.95 seconds to win her first Gold Medal. Webb, of Madisonville, Texas, got a standing ovation from the sold out crowd thanking her for her work as an ICU nurse in dealing with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
“This past year has been tough seeing this virus firsthand and the patients battling against it. It was not easy,” stated Webb. “To go through this past year, I just have to step back a little and realize how blessed I am to be able to do what I love.”
Reigning WPRA World Champion Breakaway roper Jackie Crawford captured her second consecutive silver medal stopping the clock in 2.28 seconds and Bradi Good captured her first bronze medal in a time of 2.48 seconds. Webb pocketed $25,000, Crawford $12,500 and Good $6,000.
A total of 288 competitors took their shot at a share of the $562,500 in prize money and three in each discipline were awarded with a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal.
World Champion Clayton Biglow kicked off the night with a 90.5 point ride on Northcutt-Macza’s Stevie Knicks to win his first gold medal to go alongside his gold buckle. Biglow of Clements, California, finished ahead of Richmond Champion with an 85 on Powder River Rodeo’s Two Buck Chuck, and Garrett Shadbolt and Taylor Broussard tied for third with an 84.5. Shadbolt received the bronze medal after having the higher score in the semifinal round.
Another World Champion found his way to the top of the medal podium in the steer wrestling. Tyler Waguespack took the title in a time of 3.69 seconds, outrunning Jesse Brown in 4.39 and Cody Devers in 4.43 seconds. These are the first medals for all three men.
Tanner Green was the big winner of the night capturing two medals in two different events. His first came in the team roping when he teamed with Will Woodfin for the Gold. They stopped the clock in 5.08 seconds to add $25,000 each to their bank account. Green returned in the tie-down roping and finished third to collect the bronze medal. Green of Cotulla, Texas, stopped the clock in 10.15 seconds in the tie-down roping.
All-around World Champion Ryan Jarrett can now add a gold medal to his gold buckle after stopping the clock in 8.03 seconds to win the tie-down roping. Marshall Leonard took silver in a time of 8.95 seconds.
It was a dogfight in the saddle bronc riding with Brody Cress and Chase Brooks both posting 90.5 points on the night. Cress of Hillsdale, Wyoming, spurred Sankey Rodeo’s Black Tie, while Brooks of Deer Lodge, Montana, was matched with Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Valley. Cress received the Gold based on the Days of ’47 tiebreaker rules that reverted to the higher score in the semifinal round. Canadian Kolby Wanchuk took bronze with a 90-point ride. Wanchuk of Sherwood Park, Alberta, rode Northcutt-Macza’s Get Smart for $6,000.
While an ICU nurse took top honors in the ladies breakaway roping, it was a nurse practitioner atop the medal stand in the barrel racing. Wenda Johnson turned in the fastest time of the week when it counted the most. Johnson of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, stopped the clock aboard Macgyver Moonflash in a time of 16.948 seconds. Hallie Hanssen, who came in as the No. 1 on the WCRA segment 8 leaderboard, took silver in a time of 16.997. Michelle Darling and Acey Pinkston tied for third with a time of 17.184 seconds. Again the tiebreaker rules for medals went back to the faster time in the semifinal round. Darling had a 17.114, while Pinkston finished with a 17.353. They did split the money with each receiving $4,500.
Brazilian Claudio Montanha Jr. was the only one to turn in a qualified ride on the final night scoring 91 points on Phenom Gentics’ Arctic Assassin. He walked away with a Gold medal and $25,000. The silver and bronze medal went to the Dalton’s – Dalton Rudman and Dalton Davis. Rudman received the silver after scoring 90.5 in the semifinal round and Davis got bronze due to his 88.5 in the semifinal round.
The Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo, presented by Zions Bank, took place at the $17.5 million state-of-the-art Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark, custom designed and built for rodeo. The venue—an outdoor arena located in the heart of Salt Lake City—features over 10,000 stadium-style seats.
For only the sixth time in the history of rodeo, riders competed for Gold, Silver or Bronze Medals. The first two times were in conjunction with the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary (1988) and Salt Lake City (2002), when rodeo was part of the Cultural Olympiad and the other three times being the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo 2017-2019. 2021 marked only the second time for breakaway ropers as their event was added to the roster in 2019. The medals awarded at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo were produced by OC Tanner, the same company that made the Olympic medals for the champions of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
CBS will air the Gold Medal Round of the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo on July 31 at 11 a.m. MT with Craig Hummer and Ty Murray calling the action and Kate Harrison handling the sideline reporting.
For more information visit www.daysof47cowboygames.com.
Results: – Performance 5 – July 24, 2021
Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, Clements, CA, 90.5 points on Northcott-Macza’s Stevie Knicks, $25,000; 2. Richmond Champion, Stevensville, MT, 85 on Powder River Rodeo’s Two Buck Chuck, $12,500; 3. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, NE, on Legend Rodeo’s Uptown Flash and Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, LA on Powder River Rodeo’s Black Leg, 84.5, $4,500 each
Gold medalist: Clayton Biglow
Silver medalist: Richmond Champion
Bronze medalist: Garrett Shadbolt
*Garrett won the bronze medal tie-breaker after having the higher scored ride in the semifinal round
Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA, 3.69 seconds, $25,000; 2. Jesse Brown, Baker City, OR, 4.39, $12,500; 3. Cody Devers, Perryton, TX, 4.43, $6,000; 4. Shane Frey, Duncan, OK 5.16, $3,000.
Gold medalist: Tyler Waguespack
Silver medalist: Jesse Brown
Bronze medalist: Cody Devers
Team roping: 1. Tanner Green, Cotulla, TX/Will Woodfin, Stephenville, TX, 5.08 seconds, $25,000; 2. Clint Summers, Lake City, FL/Ross Ashford, Lott, TX, 5.15, $12,500; 3. Luke Brown, Lipan, TX/Hunter Koch, Vernon, TX, 5.21, $6,000; 4. Cody Snow, Stephenville, TX/Wesley Thorp, Stephenville, TX, 10.45, $3,000.
Gold medalist: Tanner Green/Will Woodfin
Silver medalist: Clint Summers/Ross Ashford
Bronze medalist: Luke Brown/Hunter Koch
Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Brody Cress, Hillsdale, WY, on Sankey Rodeo’s Black Tie and Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, MT, on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Valley, 90.5 points, $18,750 each; 3. Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, 90 on Northcutt-Macza’s on Get Smart, $6,000; 4. Jake Wilson, Hudsons Hope, British Columbia, Canada, 86.5 on Powder River Rodeo’s Look Again, $3,000
Gold medalist: Brody Cress
Silver medalist: Chase Brooks
Bronze medalist: Kolby Wanchuk
*Tie for gold and silver was broken by the semifinal round score and Brody had a higher score
Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, OK, 8.03 seconds, $25,000; 2. Marshall Leonard, Shongaloo, LA, 8.95, $12,500; 3. Tanner Green, Cotulla, TX, 10.15, $6,000; 4. Jody Green, Ada, OK, 12.23, $3.000
Gold medalist: Ryan Jarrett
Silver medalist: Marshall Leonard
Bronze medalist: Tanner Green
Breakaway roping: 1. Tacy Kay Webb, Madisonville, TX, 1.95 seconds, $25,000; 2. Jackie Crawford, Stephenville, TX, 2.28, $12,500; 3. Bradi Good, Abilene, TX, 2.48, $6,000; 4. Josie Conner, Iowa, LA, 3.53, $3,000
Gold medalist: Tacy Kay Webb
Silver medalist: Jackie Crawford
Bronze medalist: Bradi Good
Barrel racing: 1. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, OK, 16.948 seconds, $25,000; 2. Hallie Hanssen, Hermosa, SD, 16.997, $12,500; 3. (tie) Michelle Darling, Medford, OK and Acey Pinkston, Stephenville, TX, 17.184, $4,500 each.
Gold medalist: Wenda Johnson
Silver medalist: Hallie Hanssen
Bronze medalist: Michelle Darling
*Tiebreaker for bronze was based on who turned in the faster time in the semifinal round
Bull riding: 1. Claudio Montanha Jr., Pacaembu, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 91 points on Phenom Genetics’ Rodeo’s Arctic Assassin, $25,000; no other qualified rides
Gold medalist: Claudio Montanha Jr
Silver medalist: Dalton Rudman
Bronze medalist: Dalton Davis
*Silver and bronze medals were determined based on previous scores from the semifinal round
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